Project Green Leaf

Community
Supported Agriculture (CSA)

Community Supported Agriculture
(CSA) originated in Japan
(1960s) and Europe (1970s) and began in the United States in the 1980s. This
"movement" provides a direct link between consumers and farmers.
The goal of this relationship is to provide solutions to the problems of
small farm survival, food quality, nutrition, community building,
sustainability and quality of life. This direct marketing method can benefit
both farmer and consumer in many ways.

How it Works
CSA arrangements are based on a
contractual agreement between a farmer and a consumer. Every CSA arrangement
operates differently and in a variety of forms.
However,
the concept is that the consumer, often described as a
"shareholder" or "member", usually purchases a
"share" or "membership" prior to the growing season. This
not only provides the farmer with capital to start their business, but also
ensures a guaranteed market for their product. Members can rely on fresh,
local produce throughout the season. As each crop comes in throughout the
growing season, members receive their share, often once or twice a week. The size of the shares vary in quantity and variety. As
shareholders of the farm business, they share the risks with the farmer. In
this way, the risks are spread throughout the whole membership rather than
falling solely on the farmer. The produce is picked
up by members at the farm or at a central location.

Another goal of a CSA
arrangement is to get consumers involved in the production of their food.
Some farmers may work out agreements with shareholders that reduce the cost
of a share in exchange for labor, while some CSA arrangements require
voluntary labor. Farmers may also encourage members to simply visit the farm
to see how their food is grown and how the farm operates. Other ideas include
having work-days, open-house days, picnics, or festivals on the farm.

CSA Information for Consumers

Is It For You?
Becoming a member of a CSA
arrangement may not be practical for everyone. There are several things to
consider before deciding to join.

Being a member may mean
reorienting your household's food habits and routines. Shares you receive
from a CSA arrangement are seasonal; variety is limited to what's in season.
Therefore, you will need to learn to eat in season with new varieties of
produce.

It may also be important to learn different cooking, storing
and preserving techniques. Members have to be prepared to deal with the food
once they receive it before it spoils. This is often a new challenge for many
members.

Find out how the food will be
distributed. Where will you have to pick up your weekly share? Evaluate
your time to determine if you can spend time volunteering or visiting the
farm.

If a CSA arrangement works for
you, the benefits are great. Besides enjoying, fresh, great tasting, local
food, you become directly connected to your source. You will be supporting a
small farm and contributing to your local economy. There is also the
opportunity to see how your food is grown. Another great benefit is the
chance to build community with farmers and other shareholders.

Becoming a Member
CSA membership policies and
practices vary greatly. A consumer can contact a farmer with an already
established CSA arrangement or a group of consumers can organize and contract
a farmer to grow for them.

If you would like information
about CSA arrangements in North
Carolina, contact Project Green Leaf at: s_andrea@uncg.edu

CSA Information for Farmers

Advantages
A CSA arrangement can be a valuable
part of your farm operation. This method of direct marketing provides:

Capital at a time when it is
needed most

Shared risks among members and
farmer

A guaranteed market for a portion
of what you plant, before you plant it

A set price

Reduced labor costs with member
involvement

A vital link to consumers and
community

Like other direct marketing methods,
CSA arrangements provide farmers an opportunity to sell their product locally
and have direct contact with customers.

Challenges
Operating a CSA arrangement
presents certain
challenges to many farmers. There are several things to consider before
starting a CSA arrangement:

Management skills

People and public relations skills

The size of membership in relation
to production capacity

What to grow, how much to grow and
when to harvest

Time needed for picking and
packing shares

Method and place of distribution

Coordinating workdays and
volunteer labor

Writing a weekly newsletter

Starting a CSA
Find out if there is a demand or
interest in your area for a CSA arrangement. Talk with people in the
community or conduct informal surveys to determine their interests. If the
interest is there, then the next step is getting the word out. Develop a
brochure or flyer describing your CSA arrangement and offer details about
your particular operation. Provide a list of products you plan to plant
throughout the growing season. Advertise in local newspapers or distribute
brochures or flyers at local health food stores, community centers, farmers markets,
etc. Emphasize to consumers that CSA arrangements:

Build community

Link consumers to their food
providers

Encourage social responsibility
towards stewarding the earth

Provide a source for fresh, local
farm products

Support local farms and farmers

Maintain a close connection with
your members throughout the season. Encourage feedback from them to help you
plan for the following year. You may consider publishing a monthly newsletter
containing farm news, recipes, or tips on canning and preserving. Consider
having a farm work-day, an open house or pot luck dinner at your farm.

An excellent resource for those
farmers interested in starting a CSA arrangement is the book, Sharing the
Harvest: A Guide to Community Supported Agriculture by Elizabeth Henderson
with Robin Van En.

For more information about how
to start a CSA arrangement or information about potential members, contact
Project Green Leaf at: s_andrea@uncg.edu

CSA Farms in Your Area

Listed below are farms in North Carolina that
operate CSA arrangements. Each CSA arrangement varies, so contact the
farm for details.